I Have A Big Family And Our Meetings May Be Few, But The Memories Are Great

Family. Everyone has their stories, everyone has their opinions about certain people. Big or small, good or bad, they will always be family.

My family is complicatedly big. It starts with four, then fifteen, then forty plus people not including significant others brought to events over time. And that's just one side of the family. It's always a joke that you need to check each other's family tree before you even think about marriage!

When you're young, you really don't appreciate family much, especially when they are so much older than you. They do their own things separate from you until you're old enough. Even then, they treat you like you are the baby. But, they have a reason to.

I am one of the youngest in my family. When I was younger, I would follow my two older cousins around and mimic them. I'm talking word-for-word, copy-cat style. I have no memory of this happening but when I get together with them, they will never let me live it down. As I got older, they would continue to bring it up. And now having S.O.s coming over for all the cousins, it's always a competition to bring up the most embarrassing moments.

As we grow up and it's harder to get together, we appreciate the events when all the family can come into town to visit. Because when you do bring everyone together, you may talk to an uncle that started a new job and gets you interested in it too, talk to a cousin who is starting a new business, or you may meet a S.O. that will eventually turn into a fiance and you see their life starting together. You may hardly know them now, but at the end of the day, you will know that your relative is lucky to have someone like them.

At the end of the day, it's always bittersweet.

You have to part ways with the people you love, whether you know much about them, they will always have your back and will love you. It may be different the next time you see them. Someone moves to a different state because of a job, they are married, or they have a little one running around. Each time will be different you see them because it will years later before you see them again. But however long that will be, it'll always make for a good time

Big families make you love a little harder because not only are you not sure how they are related to you, they still are and family loves you for whoever you are. They make you enjoy the time you have together and you make some great memories together.

I just saw about half of my extended family a couple weeks ago. I met someone who is going to be a part of the family in about a year. I am excited to see someone added to this big family I have, but I will get to see the other family members at their wedding. Family is always and forever. Until next time, fam.

You deserve appreciation.

You deserve kindness.

You deserve to have the nicest people in the world surround you all of the time.

You deserve support.

You deserve to have someone there for you at the beginning of every good day and at the end of every bad one, to have someone who wants to fix all of your problems.

You deserve hope.

You deserve to always be optimistic.

You deserve laughter.

You deserve to never stop smiling and actually mean it every time you do.

You deserve forgiveness.

You deserve to be able to be given second chances because without a doubt you are worth it.

You deserve friendship.

You deserve to have a friend who can be just as good of a friend as you are.

You deserve honesty.

You deserve to always be told the truth.

You deserve motivation.

You deserve to never want to give up and always push yourself.

You deserve success.

You deserve to have everything you have worked so hard for.

You deserve faith.

You deserve to always know it will get better.

You deserve loyalty.

You deserve to have that one person who will never leave and always be there for you.

You deserve happiness.

You deserve to be genuinely content with your life.

You deserve the world.

If I could give it to you, I would.

Yes, life gets tough sometimes. The unthinkable happens and your world feels like it is crashing down but you can get past all of this.

Thank you for being so selfless. It amazes me how you do it sometimes, but thank you for always making everyone your main priority when they need you.

I know I may not say it enough, but truly thank you for all you do for me. I don’t always know how to show how much someone means to me, especially when it is someone as great as you because I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but thank you.

Being Close To Your Cousins Is The Best Thing That Can Happen To You

My cousins bring out the best in me. When I'm with them, I am happier. They have played a significant role in shaping my mind and my soul. My cousins are the most meaningful people in my life—my life would be incomplete without them. Here are six reasons why cousins are awesome!

1. They help you define yourself

My cousins know me inside out. When I find myself in situations where a choice has to be made, be it choosing my career or just another pizza, my cousins have helped me choose—they know me so well! There have been times when my cousins knew things about me that I myself didn't know. It's always good to see yourself through others' eyes, and no one can get as real as your cousins.

2. They inspire you

Dance is something that I feel I was destined to do. It is one hobby I could never give up. My childhood is marked with memories of my cousin Rishabh and I going crazy to Bollywood songs. His passion and energy acted as my fuel. It is with him that I discovered the dancer hidden within me. His love for dance continues to inspire me each day.

3. They are there for you, no matter what

My cousins have always been there for me, through thick and thin. They have helped me understand and control my emotions. Who needs therapists when you have cousins like mine?

4. You learn so much from them

My cousin Shivam formed the image of an ideal elder brother in my life. He always stood with what was right and fought against the wrong. I look up to him because in him I see someone who is wise way beyond his years. I see a nurturing, supportive, patient man who is aware of his words and actions. Being the eldest of us all, he made sure we felt happy and safe. From him, I have learned the importance of selfless love, humility, and of always being right. Growing up with these amazing people that I call my cousins, I learned new things every day.

5. They understand you

They were there through the hair color phase, the nose ring phase, the Taylor Swift phase, and they never judged you.

6. They're like parents, but cooler

When you make a mistake, they will correct you. When you cross the line, they will put you back in your place. But when you want to go out partying, they'll also help you pick an outfit!

Cousins are a blessing in disguise. And if you have cousins like mine, oh boy, you must be lucky! My cousins make the challenging path toward adulthood worth walking. They make life worth living. And as we part ways and move into different cities, our hearts will always be together and their lessons always with me.